Adjusting unit for heating systems



Dec.- 9, 1930.VV A. .1. I oEPslNGER ET Al. 1,784,673

ADJUSTING UNIT FOR HEATING SYSTEMS Filed MarchV 25, 1927 F776 Y W7 4 MQm ATTO RN EY5 Patented Dec. 9, 1930 umrensmresf PATENT ALBERT'LOEPSINGER AND IRA WV KNIGHT, `OF PROVIDENCE, IRI-IODE ISLAND, Am'SIG'NORS TO GENERAL FIRE'EXTINGUISHER OOMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE'ARHODEISLAND, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE ADJUSTING UNIT FOR HEATING S'SFSTEMIApplication mea Maren z5,

This invention relates to improvements` in adjusting units for heatingsystems. More especially it relates to units for adjusting the iioW of amedium, as hot Water, to the radiators of the system, severally, totheend that the volumeof flow through each radiator may be in approximateequality with or atleast in a desired proportion to, that through otherradiators ofthe system. f f

The vimprovements herein disclosed and claimed are particularly adaptedoruse in a control system such as is described in application forLetters'Patent, Serial No. 178,364, filed March 25, 1927,- inthe nameoit Albert 151 W. Moulder for improvement in "heating systems. A .Thepresent inventionk provides an elongated resistance for the flowingmedium, which is insertable in the regular piping at each radiatorvvhereit is desired, having several improvements among whichy are the at-`taining of the total desired friction in a very short distance; thestandardizing of the resistance element as to length, however theirindividual resistance valuesl may be adjusted, and the providing forextremely easy andpquick adjustment ofV the resistance,in as iinegradations as may b ey desired. These ends are attained withk usel ofcapsule wherein is Van elongated path for the medium (assumed herein toVbe hot Water) and an ef` iective means whereby the flow of Water may bedelayed by impact and its course at the same time' being made moremeticulously tortuous, sothat the degree 'of frictional resistancerequired may be obtained in a small space, Without the fiovv beingseriously obstructed., Itis also a feature that the resist-k ance unitas a Whole comprises a multiplicity offparts, which may be eitherrestricting parts or non-restricting parts and Which may beeasilyarranged in place and in such proportionatenumbers as arerequisite to'obtain the M ,A eiiect desired.y A 45 vllheinventionprovides, as does thatof Mr. Moulder, for the insertion of the capsuleas va unit'inside of the piping constituting the local circuit ofeachradiator, being preferably inserted through the radiator valve into theend of the feed pipe yWhich leads to 1927. serial No. massa merely asleeve or tube and might be composed of .any other suitable holdingmeans, are certain perforated flanged disks superimpos y one` uponanother with their flanges thusiitting Within 'the tubes and theirbodyportions extending across the tube. In. a pre-K ferred arrangementfor getting maximum' resistance disks having a centralperforation Yalternatev with" the disks having perforations near their flanges. j'The flanges ,are short, cylindrical', and have the elliectcf' spacing'the body Apart of one disk fromthe body` part ot the next adjacent disk.'InV practice these ianges'are short fandconsequently thesuccessive'disks are relatively close together.A Since thepclosedportion of each ydisk isfin line with the opening of the precedingI diskand of the succeedingdisk, the Water-passing through an opening isimpacted against thel disk space as a barrier and must turn sharplyaside in eddy current to lind the nent opening. The frictionalvresistaime imposedupon the, flowing `Water can be varied asl'desired,Within a relatively short distance, by suitably ar-` ranging the numberolfV alterations of one kind of disk to the other kind, ythe maximumbeing had Where'every passagefrom one disk to-anotheris an alternation,and 'a minimum resistance-Where there is no alternation, all

disks beingof the same kind, unless, as a further measure to reduceresistance, the capsule is omitted altogether-` f A'In the constructionor adjustment of the heating system oneniay first determine Whichy ofthe .radiators will have excessive flow, this determination being madebyv computation or by operation, andthen suitably arranged resistancecapsules may be inserted, one in the local circuit of "each radiatorproviding such resistance as is neededat the radiator to make the totalresistance of flow through its circuit from the source of heat throughthe radiator and back to the sourceot heat substantially equal to thetotal resistance to flow through each otherradiator circuit, in whichcase there Will be an equable iioiv ofthe heat? ing medium through allparts of the system.

It is intended that the patent shall cover by v suitable expression inthe appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in theinvention disclosed. l Y

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is an elevation of a radiator andfeed pipe leading thereto, with a part of the latter broken away to showthe restrictionV unit therein, y

Figure 2 is an elevation, on larger scale,

`with parts ,in section, of :the feed. pipevalve and restriction unit; Y.v

Figures 3 and el are plans and elevations 0f the different types ofdisks used in the rex striction unit;

' Figure 5 is an elevation of a section of the nunit on still largerscale, illustrating an imagined course of flow of the water through thedisks; and ,e

Figure 6 is an elevation like Figure showing a modified formof disk.; v

Referring `to the drawings, radiatorlO receives hot water through thefeed pipe l2 and returns it through pipe lll. vrlhe restriction unit 16of the present invention is inthe tube with their flanges 24a againstitswall.

lthrough the opening in thelowest Each alternate disk has a centralperforation 2li in its body being thebottom Vof the cup, and theintervening disks have one'or more marginal perforations 24C distributedabout the edges of their-.body portions, Vnear their flanges. The tubeand its contained disks makeV a sort of capsule or cartridge 'which canbe previously loaded with disksuas desired and then inserted while thevalve is temporarily removed. As seen in Figure 5 water iollowing upthrough pipe l2 must enter the bottom of the sleeve 2O and'pass disk,assumed to bea central opening 24". lhe diect course upward throughVthis opening strikes the' solid center 2451 'of thejdis'k nent above, sothat the-water must separate, and spread toward the flange 24?- of thedisk, where it isagain arrested and must turn togo through the marginalopenings 24C only to strike the solid partv 24e of a disk like the firstone. The abrupt deflections create eddy currents and set up a turmoilbetween the a disks. Ultimately the flow gets through the stack ofdisks,but only after overcoming the resistance engendered by repeatedly-changing Yits course thus radically and circularly s and passing overthe more or less sharp edges Y walls, inertia, eddying, etc.

of the openings, with considerable friction and absorption of energy dueto the endless opposition from liquid tension, adhesion to The degree ofhis opposition to flow is in proportion to the number of alternations ofthe-two kindsof diator,and back to the source shall have a supplementalresistance, supplied by the de- Vvice of the invention, which puts it onan equality with the other radiator circuits,or v.gives it suchrelation' thereto as may be desired. `Yet there is'iiowhere a dangerous-Iclosure of the flow passage; tlievalve may be operated to turn itsradiator off or on at will. Subsequent adjustments can easily be made ifdesired.

Above the uppermost disk is a coiled spring 2G which is somewhatcompressed by the valve -18 even when the latter is full open. Thespring pressure holds the disks inthe tube andthe tube inthe pipeagainst theupward flow of water. i'n case .a eonsiderablernumber of,disks were removed, afspacingtube (not shown) equal tothe fianges 2 4in diam-A eter and thickness, andas longV as desired,

could be inserted under the top remaining f disk so that the springcould-always exert this pressure ou the rdisks and tube.

Y It is a' feature of the arrangement that a` very great amount ofresistanceV to 'flow is made available in a short lengthofpipe. Thenumber of disks can be veasily, changed, and consequently the resistanceraised or lowered quickly to meet any observed need. y

In Figure 6, a modified form of. disk is shown in which the solid part V24? around the central perforation 24h is dished or in-v clined towardthe i'iange 24a. .lVith vdisks so shaped and inserted in the tube 20,'with the dislied portion` 219 downward, the water which naturallyspreads to someextent after passing through an opening 24. is furtherspread by its contact with the inclined surface of thedisk, and directedagainst the liaiiges 24D. The impact with the latter Causes the water toturn back upon itself, setting up a turmoil and forming eddycurentswhich effectually cut down the velocitypf fiow through thecentral openings.

i e claim as our invention: Flow impeding means fora hot water heatingsystem comprising'in combination, a tube adapted to .beinserted in thelocal piping circuit of a radiator so that the water flowing through theradiator passes through said tube; a multiplicity of disks each having aperforated body portion extending across said tube and having a marginalflange fitting against the wall thereof and resting against the nextadjacent disk to provide a "space between the disks ;v alternate diskshaving a. central perforation through their body portions and theintervening disks having marginal perforations through their bodyportions whereby the water passing through the perforations repeatedlysuffers impacts and deflections; the said spaces between the diskshaving capacity of flow at least equal to the capacity of kflow throughthe perforations.

2. Flow impeding means adapted to be ina marginal perforation; and thesaid disks being spaced apa-rt to provide a passage between each disk aslarge as the passage through the perforations thereof.

3. llhe combina-tion with a valve for the radiator of a hot Waterheating system, of a tube having an outturned flange at one end adaptedto rest on the Valveseat and having an inturned fiange at the other end;a series of flanged disks nested in said ltube With the flange of onedisk resting on said inturned flange and With the flanges of thesucceeding disks resting on the body portions of preceding' disks; eachalternate disk having a central opening and the intervening disks havinga marginal opening whereby the hot Water passing through the series ofdisks repeatedly suers impacts and deflections.

Signed at Providence, Rhode Island, this eighteenth day of March, 1927.

, ALBERT J. LOEPSINGER.

IRA W. KNIGHT.

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